April 4, 2018 — The executive committee of the University of Houston Law Center recently voted to honor Professor Meredith J. Duncan with the 2018 Ethel M. Baker Faculty Award for her leadership in promoting the school's involvement in the community.

"It came as quite a surprise," said Duncan, George Butler Research Professor of Law and director of metropolitan programs, "but I am very honored to be the recipient of this faculty award."

She was cited for her work with the UHLC Pre-Law Pipeline Program and the Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Program.

"Each program has had major impact on the Law Center community," Dean Leonard M. Baynes said in announcing the award. "Through the Pre-Law Pipeline Program, many Law Center faculty have interviewed, mentored and taught pre-law students. This combined Law Center community effort has had lasting effect on the lives of the pre-law students."

The Jurist-in-Resident Program, named in honor of Justice Ruby Kless Sondock, an alumna and trailblazer in the legal profession, brings leading jurists from across the country to lecture and interact with faculty, students and alumni. "The program has strengthened our relationship with the bench and bar and has led to an increasing number of students obtaining federal clerkships," Baynes said.

"It has really been a privilege to help with both the Pre-Law Pipeline Program and the Jurists-In-Residence Program," Duncan said. "Both programs benefit students directly by preparing undergraduate students for their journey to law school and by increasing our law students' chances of securing clerkship opportunities after graduation."

The award, established by Mike Baker, a Law Center alumnus and former UHLC professor, will be presented at the Dean's Award Ceremony on April 17 in Krost Hall.